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Presidential Seal to be auctioned - NO SPAM! - CONTEST for CS Members

Started by cpm9ball,

44 posts in this topic

cpm9ball

cpm9ball

Posted
Posted

For anyone who may be interested in following this item, Stack's will be offering it in their pre-FUN auction on Monday, January 5.

 

I had planned offering it with "No Reserve", but Christine Karstedt said that her staff would determine some reasonable amount as the reserve so that it won't cost me anything if it doesn't sell. It really doesn't matter to me what the reserve will be as the seal represents an unfortunate segment of my life that I wish to put behind me.

 

*****CONTEST RULES*****

 

1) The member who comes closest to guessing the actual WINNING bid will receive $50.

 

2) You may enter only once.

 

3) Once you have recorded your guess, you may not change it.

 

4) Your guess SHOULD NOT include any fee that may be added to the winning bid.

 

5) To enter, all you need to do is record your guess on this thread.

 

6) Though a tie may be unlikely, in that event the prize money will be divided between the winners.

 

7) In the event that the Presidential Seal does not sell in the auction, the contest will be null and void.

 

8) The deadline for entries will be 12:01 AM EST, Saturday, January 3, 2009.

 

NGC Staff and Moderators can play too!

 

NOTE: I had to get this posted, now, because I must vacate my Mom's home within the next 72 hours, and my internet access will be terminated for how long, I don't know. If necessary, I will be able to access these message boards from the public library.

 

Good luck! I hope that everyone enjoys a wonderful Christmas season and a safe, but-not-necessarily-sober-as-long-as-you-don't-drive New Year celebration.

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

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jgrinz

jgrinz

Posted
Posted
I must vacate my Mom's home within the next 72 hours, and my internet access will be terminated for how long, I don't know. If necessary, I will be able to access these message boards from the public library.

 

No Notebook Huh - just about everywhere has wireless now ...

Plus I am sure they have Internet Cafe's down there if they have them in My neck of the woods ...

Good Luck bud

 

Can we have a little history on this - where you got it etc

 

 

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cpm9ball

cpm9ball

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Can we have a little history on this - where you got it etc

 

My brother worked for the Smithsonian during the Reagan administrations. By trade, he was a plasterer who learned the art of ornamental plastering, known as cornice work, from our father who was one of very, very few plasterers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area who had mastered the art. Besides recreating the seal, my brother was also given the assignment of restoring some of the plaster work in the White House to the original state which had been destroyed during the War of 1812. However, I don't know which assignment came first.

 

Anyway, during President Reagan's second term in office, a request to recreate the seal came from the White House directed to the Smithsonian, and my brother was given the assignment. In order to make the final copy, my brother had to create a "working copy" to determine the areas where the relief had to be enhanced. Through decades of visitors to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building touching the seal, the wear had been taking its toll on the original. Now, the final copy is hanging in the White House, and if you've ever watched the TV series "West Wing", you can actually see my brother's finished work hanging (on the stage set) in some of the episodes.

 

As a gesture of appreciation, my brother was allowed to keep the working copy. He had told my parents and myself that an executive of Sears, Roebuck & Co. had offered him $50K for it, but I can't confirm this. Instead, my brother chose to give it to our Dad because he was a big fan of Ronald Reagan, both, as an actor and politician. When Dad died, ownership of the seal passed to Mom. When Mom passed, I told my brother that I would return it to him, but he told me that he didn't want it, and I could keep it. Mom & Dad now rest peacefully at Arlington National Cemetery overlooking Washington, D.C.

 

I am including two framed photos to go with the seal in the auction. One is a very small photo my brother took with an inexpensive camera that shows where the finished copy is hanging. It doesn't show any of the detail, because it had to be taken from a distance where cameras were allowed. The second is a standard photo autographed by President and Mrs. Reagan to our parents when President Reagan learned that my brother would be giving the working copy to our parents.

 

Chris

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WoodenJefferson

WoodenJefferson

Posted
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Well, I hope one of them casinos out there in Las Vegas goes gaga and bids it up to the moon, but in the mean time I'm going to put an auction estimate of

 

$12,501.00

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cpm9ball

cpm9ball

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Though it was not specified in the original set of rules, I feel that it is necessary to clarify the following:

 

Eligibility

This contest is open to all members of the NGC Collectors' Society and the moderators and/or staff of NGC.

 

Chris

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jgrinz

jgrinz

Posted
Posted
$15,550.00 but that's only because it is a down market. It's worth twice that.

 

Is there really a Down Market for this type of item ? ... There is still people with money out there and this is a ONE OF A KIND item ... I believe the walls will bleed money for this item

 

( It will be SWEET if it does serious cash ... a little sibling payback - I hope it is writing that he gave it to you and not suddenly become part of the estate )

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jesbroken

jesbroken

Posted
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Chris,

Merry Christmas to you and I hope my bid of $32,775 is far short of the actual bid.

Perhaps, this new year will bring many new beginnings unforseen for America that will allow our return to normalcy. Good luck.

Jim

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